Microcalorimetry for x-ray spectroscopy

Abstract

An improved microcalorimeter-type energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer provides sufficient energy resolution and throughput for practical high spatial resolution x-ray mapping of a sample at low electron beam energies. When used with a dual beam system that provides the capability to etch a layer from the sample, the system can be used for three-dimensional x-ray mapping. A preferred system uses an x-ray optic having a wide-angle opening to increase the fraction of x-rays leaving the sample that impinge on the detector and multiple detectors to avoid pulse pile up.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 61 / 232,779, filed Aug. 10, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a system for determining the composition of a sample.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Electron probe microanalyzers and electron microscopes having an attached x-ray spectrometer are used to determine the composition of microscopic or nanoscopic regions of a surface. The detectors determine the energy or wavelengths of x-rays emitted from the sample and infer the composition of material under the electron beam from the energy or wavelength of the x-rays. Because the x-rays characteristic of different materials may have energies that are only slightly different, a detector needs sufficient resolution to differentiate between closely spaced x-ray energies. To process a sample in reasonable amount of time, x-ray detectors need to be able to process a large number of x-rays e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The present invention includes a microcalorimeter-type EDS system that provides sufficient resolution and throughput for practical high spatial resolution x-ray mapping of a sample. Some embodiments of the invention use a wide-angle opening for x-ray optics to increase the fraction of x-rays leaving the sample that impinge on the detector. Some embodiments of the invention use multiple detectors to improve the maximum count rate that can be processed by the EDS system. Some embodiments of the invention use a neutron transmutation doped temperature measurement element to improve resolution. Some embodiments use a tin x-ray absorber. Some embodiments of the invention use a JFET amplifier to measure the change in current of the temperature-sensing element.

Problems solved by technology

Some embodiments use rapid electron beam scanning and periodic plasma cleaning to enable drift correction, and minimization of sample damage, contamination buildup and charging; that is problems the severity of which increases with improved spatial resolution.

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